During the transformation of the Royal Festival Hall, the 50-year-old organ, designed by Ralph Downes and built by Harrison & Harrison Ltd of Durham, has been carefully removed and stored. This has provided an opportunity for essential renovation of the organ to be undertaken. The first section of the organ is to be reinstated in 2007 (namely the Swell Organ (complete), the Great Organ fluework and the Pedal 32ft Principal), thus enabling it to be used in an orchestral context. Southbank Centre is committed to returning the remaining part of the instrument as soon as possible thereafter so that it can be used once again for recitals.
Find out more about the Royal Festival Hall organ and the organ generally from the links below: The Rise of the Organ Music Society (PDF) A Concert-Goer's Guide to the Organ (PDF) The Royal Festival Hall Organ & Specifications (PDF) Ralph Downes - a biographical sketch (PDF) Organ related links The articles are all PDFs. To view them, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free to download.